Skelling, Skeklers and Guising: Exploring Liminality was the Taibhsear Collective’s 2nd event. It took place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh in November 2019. This event was all about celebrating Scottish folk magic and community traditions exploring and relating to themes of liminality, Samhuinn, (Halloween), costuming, guising, and winter’s start.
This two day event was dedicated to exploring the themes of autumn, Samhuinn, and liminality, and celebrating Scottish folk magic and community traditions.
Saturday evening was filled with performances from storytellers from the UK and Europe, followed by live music from Burd Ellen, Lizabett Russo, and Heir of the Cursed.
Sunday consisted of a full day conference programme with a selection of guest lecturers from Iceland, Europe, and the UK interspersed with stories and performances by a wide range of storytellers and musicians. In between the talks and performances, there were opportunities to attend workshops and take part in crafts including creative writing, straw weaving, and stained glass making.
View the programme
Feedback
Attendees told us what they liked most about the event on anonymous feedback forms. Here’s some of what they said…
Enjoyed hearing Scottish folk tales and music, celebrating culture and learning it’s history.
I loved all of it but especially the evening storytelling before the main event. Also enjoyed the writing workshop. Oh and the music! Actually it was just all wonderful.
I really enjoyed the presentations on skeklers and witches’ bottles. I also liked the relaxed inclusive nature of the event as a whole.
Friendliness and interaction; varied nature of the talks and workshops.
![Straw skekler costume on stage](https://i1.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_08_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![Lady sitting on floor weaving straw. There is a straw horse behind her.](https://i1.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_69_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![A lady and a man sitting at desk making lanterns. The man is holding a stick.](https://i1.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_57_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![A man standing on a stage reading from a book. A purple screen behind him reads 'Haunted Voices'](https://i0.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_43_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![A man, Tim Porteous, stands in the darkness. His hands are in front of him and he looks serious. He is wearing a red scarf.](https://i0.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_30_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![Another lady sits on the floor weaving straw. There is a lot of straw surrounding her.](https://i2.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_61_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![A man stands on the stage talking to an audience. A bright yellow skekler costume stands behind him. It looks scary.](https://i2.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_42_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![A horse-like head made of straw](https://i0.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_60_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![A woman wearing a straw skekler costume. She is smiling.](https://i1.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_64_comp-scaled-1-334x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![Scott Richardson-Read holding a basket of soul cakes. He is smiling. Debbie Armour stands in the background.](https://i0.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_24_comp-scaled-1-347x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![Lizabett Russo on stage playing a guitar. A man sits on a chair next to her also playing a guitar.](https://i0.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_11_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![Jane is telling a story. She is holding her hand out and looking thoughtful.](https://i2.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_02_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![Lizabett Russo singing passionately and playing her guitar.](https://i2.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_10_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![A group pf people sit in the Netherbow Theatre. They are smiling, and passing a basket of soul cakes between them.](https://i1.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_25_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![A woman holding a straw Brigid Cross which she is weaving.](https://i1.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_62_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![Rachel Frost holding straw and weaving. She is concentrating, because the straw is very long.](https://i0.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_68_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![A collection of straw objects on a table. There is two straw baskets and a hat.](https://i2.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_53_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![Burd Ellen playing music on the stage. They are singing.](https://i0.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_12_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![3 artists and Scott Richardson-Read sit on chairs surrounded by artwork. They are discussing art and look serious.](https://i2.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_36_comp-500x334.jpg?ssl=1)
![A lady in a yellow dress tells a story. She looks happy and is gesturing with her arms.](https://i2.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_04_comp-500x500.jpg?ssl=1)
![A close up of a straw skekler hat. It is pointy and has a decoration and fabric tied to the top.](https://i1.wp.com/mergingdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019_11_23_SSG_16_comp-500x500.jpg?ssl=1)